Fodder-holder



(No Model.) l

, W. s. TILGHMAN.

PODDER HOLDER. No. 256,931. Patented A111225, 1882.

. wmwaemmv VVsuitable device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FODDER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters HOLDER.

Patent No. 256,931, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed February 25, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W ILLTAM S. TILGHMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Worcester, (P. O. address Salisbury,) and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fodder-Hold ers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawgine object of my invention is to provide a eorn-fodderholder-an instrument to facilitate the gathering of fodder.

The construction of the instrument and its operation will lirst be described and the invention then designated in the claim.

In the drawing hereto annexed the instrument is illustrated in perspective.

The letter A designates a wood bar, which in practice should be about eighteen inches long, and, say, one inch by ve-'eighths in crosssection. The upper end of this bar is provided with a curved or segment-shaped block, B, which by its shape is adapted to rest against the. human body, to which it is designed to be attached by means of a belt or strap, C, to pass around the waist. An iron rod, d, has one end securely fastened to the upper end of the wood bar, as at d. From thence the rod extends straight down the bar, say, two-thirds its length, at which point the rod is again fastened to the bar by'a staple, d?, or other From this point the rod is curved, as at d3, and bent upward, extending straight and parallel with the part which is attached to the wood bar, the two straight .portions with the curved part resembling generally the shape of a letter U. The upper free end of the rod d is provided with a vertical slot, e, formed by a wire, e', secured thereto. Awire,f,is in the present instance secured at one end to the wood bar. From its point of attachmentit extends up along the free side of the rod cl and passes through the slot c in the upper end of the rod, and has an angular or elbow-shaped bend,f, which normally is in contact with the upper end of the wood bar'. This wire serves as a spring, and the elbowshaped bend may be pressed away from the wood bar until the elbow part is in contact with the top of the slot c.

A follower plate or block, G, has at each end a groove or notch, h, one of which sets aslride of and slides on one of the vertical straight portions of the rod d, which thus serve as guides. A piece of hoop-iron is bent in the middle to form a loop,f,and two straight parallel ends, k, whose extremities are rigidly fastened to the follower G; The loop is below the curved -part d3 of the rod, and the follower about it, while one of the two straight ends k of the iron are on each side of the said curved part of the rod. This arrangement permits the follower to be raised and lowered while the hoop-iron loop travels astride of the ,curved part of the rod, and said loop t', by coming against the curved part d3, limits the upward movement of the follower. rlhe spiral spring a surrounds the two straight parallel ends k, one end of the spring resting upon the top side ofthe curved part of the rod and the other end resting against the lower side of the follower. This spring serves to press the follower upward.

The strap C being buckled around the waist just above the hips, the instrument is used as follows: Both hands of the person using the instrument are free to strip oilI the fodder, which, as fast as gathered, is placed in the holder above the elbow-shaped bend of the wire spring and pressed down below to the follower, the downward pressure of the fodder being all tliat is needed to operate the instrument. As the bundle of fodderinereases the follower is gradually depressed until the U- shaped-rod holder is full. The entire bundle may then be lifted out by raising it' against the elbow-shaped part, which yields for that purpose.

By means of this instrumenta person can employ both hands in stripping the fodder from the standing cornstalk, and pass on and continue gathering until a bundle has accumulated, and thereby it is found to greatly facilitate the operation.

Having described myinvention, I claim and the follower, and means, substantially as dero desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United scribed, for attachment to the human body, as

Statesset forth.

An instrument to facilitate gathering fod- In testimony wliereofI affix my signature in 5 der, consisting of a holder having two straight presence of two witnesses.

parallel sides, a spring-actuated follower mov- WILLIAM S. TILGHMAN. ing in the said two sides and constituting Witnesses: the bottom of the bolder, a spring-actuated G. P. CANNON,

device to close the top of the holder above HANDY FOoKs. 

